[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Film Industry

[Saif]

I’m happy to be ruling over the hearts of Bangalis: Shakib Khan

Shakib Khan’s “Toofan” was released in 47 theatres, including South City, Star Theater, and Lake Mall in Kolkata, on July 5.

www.thedailystar.net

I'm happy to be ruling over the hearts of Bangalis: Shakib Khan

Photo: Collected

Shakib Khan's "Toofan" was released in 47 theatres, including South City, Star Theater, and Lake Mall in Kolkata, on July 5.

As part of the film's promotion, Shakib Khan visited Kolkata to talk about his film with his fans. The premiere was held at Kolkata's South City Mall. Earlier, the makers of "Toofan" held a press conference to discuss the film with the media.

Shakib Khan also gave various interviews to media outlets in Kolkata, describing himself as the undefeatable "King of Bangali peoples' hearts."

The megastar of Dhallywood was asked if he was moody - "Shakib Khan is known as the 'King of Bangladesh.' Everybody wants to know how you reign over people's hearts when some people complain that you are moody. What's your answer to that?"

Shakib Khan replied, "Well, I feel people who think I am moody are mostly those who haven't seen or known me personally. Do you really think I am moody?" he added with a big smile.

He then went on to state that he has many enemies. "One can rule over people's hearts in two ways - through fighting and love. I have won the hearts of people without any competition and I am the king of Bangali people's hearts."

Shakib Khan is not only the megastar of Dhallywood; he is also one of the superstars of Bengali cinema and the poster boy of Bangladeshi cinema.

On this day, the actor was asked about his sense of responsibility for the success of his movies. "More than 250 films and numerous super hit movies under your name. Currently, your film 'Toofan' is doing exceptional business both in Bangladesh and abroad. Do you feel that you have a huge responsibility towards the industry?" asked the journalist.

The "Toofan" actor gave a blunt and honest reply to the reporter and said, "Earlier, I used to work a lot concentrating on the quantity of work instead of quality. Some of the films were good, while others were average. Many of the directors used to even come to me and tell me, 'bhai I am in a lot of trouble. Can you please work on my film?'. I did those films for the sake of industry and out of a sense of responsibility. I did those films in order to support the cinema halls."

Despite numerous setbacks and hurdles, Shakib Khan came to understand that the people of Bangladesh love him deeply and that he also enjoys a significant fanbase outside the country.

"I am really grateful that people from outside the country also love me. They appreciate my work and praise me when I do well. That's when I decided to focus on quality films, leading to 'Toofan', which is now doing well in theatres," concluded the actor.​

 

[Saif]

Babita recovers from COVID

On July 18, widespread unrest erupted nationwide under the pretext of quota reform protests, leading to blockades throughout Dhaka and a citywide internet blackout. Amidst this turmoil, iconic actress Babita tested positive for the coronavirus.

www.thedailystar.net

Babita recovers from COVID

Photo: Collected

On July 18, widespread unrest erupted nationwide under the pretext of putting a stop to quota reform protests, leading to blockades throughout Dhaka and a citywide internet outage. Amidst this turmoil, iconic actress Babita tested positive for the coronavirus.

The news was confirmed to the media by Babita's younger sister, actress Champa.

On Saturday, July 27, Champa announced that after four days of treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka, Babita tested negative for COVID-19. Following the doctor's advice, she returned home but continued to experience physical weakness.

Champa shared, "Apa had been feeling body aches for several days. Though there was no fever, she felt unwell. After getting tested, we learned she was COVID-19 positive. Without any delay, I admitted her to a private hospital in Dhaka on July 18."

Champa also mentioned, "The situation in the country was quite concerning at the time. Amidst all this, the news of Apa contracting COVID-19 came as a shock to us. Alone, I felt uncertain about how to proceed. Then, after discussing with our elder sister, actress Shuchanda, we decided to get her admitted to the hospital promptly. After four days of continuous care, she returned home free from the virus. We are relieved for now."

This wasn't the first time Babita had been infected with Coronavirus.

Farida Akhtar Poppy, famously known as Babita, is a legendary actress in Bengali cinema. She captivated audiences with her performances as an indomitable heroine on the black-and-white screens of Bengali films during the 70s and 80s, and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of her fans.​

 

[Saif]

71 for Babita, Bangla’s original diva

Babita began her journey in cinema 50 years ago. From romantic to social films, the actress is known for her mesmerising performance throughout her career. She has countless fans both at home and abroad.

www.thedailystar.net

71 for Babita, Bangla's original diva

Photos: Shahrear Kabir Heemel

Today marks the 71st birthday of veteran actress Babita. Recently, she was diagnosed with COVID-19. She returned home after four days of treatment at a private hospital in the capital.

Babita began her journey in cinema 50 years ago. From romantic to social films, the actress is known for her mesmerising performance throughout her career. She has countless fans both at home and abroad.

The Daily Star caught up with her to learn about her health updates, her birthday plans, and more.

"Suddenly, I contracted the virus, however, I returned home after the tests came back negative. I am still feeling weak, and doctors also suggested that I take plenty of rest," shared the actress.

As we spoke, she sighed that she was supposed to spend her birthday with her son in Canada. "I was so careful, yet, I got infected with COVID. Sadly, despite confirming my tickets I couldn't visit my son."

Babita elaborated that she doesn't have any plans for her birthday. "As soon as I return to normal health, I will fly to Canada. I wish to spend time with my son. Today, I am missing him a lot."

Babita is grateful to everyone who wished her on her birthday. "So many people reached out to me, and I am grateful to them. People still love me today, and this makes me feel that life is extremely beautiful."

When asked about her achievements during her entire career, the once sensational actress said, "Everything I have received in my artistic life is an achievement. However, the love of the people is the greatest achievement of an artiste's life. There can be no greater reward than this."

Recalling a memory from a year ago, Babita said, "Last year, a significant event happened in my life. As I visited my son during my birthday, I went to Dallas from Canada. The mayor there honoured me with a lifetime achievement award. I will always remember the event."

When asked about her once favourite place, BFDC, the Ashani Sanket actress said, "I haven't been to BFDC in a long time. I don't feel like going. As far as I know, the floors from our time are being demolished. There will be a multi-story building there."

She further said, "We have countless joyful memories surrounding BFDC. There are memories of shooting many movies there."​

 

[Saif]

Dhallywood in crisis again

There’s no audience in the halls. The plans of releasing new films is being cancelled as well. Everyone concerning the film industry including producers, directors and hall owners are facing losses. This has put Dhallywood into fresh crisis.

en.prothomalo.com

Dhallywood in crisis again
Entertainment Correspondent Dhaka
Updated: 02 Aug 2024, 13: 01

People had returned to cinema halls with the film 'Toofan'.taken from Facebook

Movie theatres in the country have fallen into a crisis in the ongoing unrest centering the quota reform movement. Like everything else, the cinema halls too were shut during curfew. The single screens and the multiplexes started reopening once the curfew was relaxed.

But there are no people in the halls. Plans of releasing new films are being cancelled as well. Everyone in the film industry including producers, directors and hall owners are facing losses. This has put Dhallywood into fresh crisis.

Even in the fifth week since the Eid holidays, there was significant interest about films among the audience while the situation was normal. There was crowds on the weekends. Meanwhile, some of the single screens started reopening when the curfew was relaxed. And after taking some time to observe the situation, the multiplexes started reopening from last Thursday.

Senior marketing officer of Star Cineplex, Mezbah Uddin Ahmed said, "Back when the situation was normal, we had 48 shows of the film 'Toofan' in our multiplex. We were hopeful that if it continues like this we would be able to run smoothly when there's another quality film. But, you can say the business has taken a nosedive amid this unrest."

Star Cineplex UNB

"Where we used to get 100 per cent audience earlier, there's not even 10 per cent viewers now. We suffered a huge loss. Though the situation seems to be improving a bit, will there be as much audience as before when the situation is better? Just as we suffered losses, the whole film industry also came under threat," he added.

Reportedly, there are only two shows running at the Cineplex, one at 11:00 am and the other at 1:00 pm. The hall owners stated, most of the time except for the Eid holidays, they do not even earn enough to meet the expenses properly at the end of the month.

Under such circumstances, they were becoming hopeful centering the two Eid holidays. For, the audience was coming back to the halls after a long time. Before this unrest, Manihar cinema hall in Jashore made a good profit from screening the film 'Toofan'. But, the earnings have stopped altogether now.

Managing director of Manihar Cinema Hall, Ziaul Islam told Prothom Alo, "We took a big hit there. The audience was regularly visiting the cinema halls. Now there has been such a break that it just ruined the continuity of audience coming to cinemas."

Actress Nazira Mou and actor Indraneil Sengupta in a scene of the upcoming film 'Nandini'.Collected

"Even if the situation turns normal now, it doesn't seem there would be as many audiences coming back like before. Plus, there have to be quality films," added he.

Some think films have to be released and promoted one by one through proper planning when the situation has become normal. Only then the desolate cinema halls will become houseful again.

Senior vice president of the Hall Exhibitors Association Mia Alauddin said, "We don't have the capability to meet the losses that has been caused to the film industry this time. As it is there are not many cinema halls left."

"The ones that survived were also limping. In this situation who would come forward to release a film! The achievements from the films Poran, Hawa, Shurongo, Priyotoma and Toofan just went in vain. The empty cinema halls need government's help now," Mia Alauddin added.

According to Hall Exhibitors Association information, for the time being there's no possibility of any new film being released in the current condition of the country. A film named 'Haimantir Itikatha' cancelled out of the release list last Friday. The director of the film is worried about when will he release the film later.

Meanwhile, another film 'Nandini' was on the way to be released next Friday. Director of the film Shoaibur Rahman doesn't want to release the film amid the current situation.

Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay in a scene of the film 'Ajob Karkhana'.Prothom Alo

He said, "Seeing a good influx of audience we had planned to release our film on 2 August. Everything was finalised. The situation is such that audience does not have the mentality to visit the cinemas now. If there's no audience how will we get our investments back?"

We are planning on releasing the film at the end of August if the situation turns normal. Meanwhile, we are following up on the release date of Shakib Khan's film 'Dorod'. We might also delay the release of our film to the end of September."

The last film that released after the Eid holidays is 'Ajob Karkhana'. While the film welcomed audience till 17 July, all the shows got cancelled after that.

Director of the film Shabnam Ferdousi, said, "We were getting audiences as expected. We had an audience on Wednesday also. After that, there have been no screenings of the film till now. Now we are waiting for the cinema halls to reopen fully. May be then we will be able to release the movie again."

From the business perspective, Dhallywood is faced with huge losses. The damage that has been done cannot be met in any way, believes former leader of the producers' association Khorshed Alam Khasru.

He said, "The blow on the business of cinema halls will have an impact on entire Dhallywood. In this environment of fear that has been created, the audience won't leave their house to watch a film at least. Now is not a suitable time to release good movies either."

"If it becomes impossible to even run the films, it will impact the investments also. But if there are better quality movies after the two Eid holidays, they have to be released through proper planning. We have to make up for our losses," he added.​

 

[Saif]

নতুন সংকটে ঢাকাই সিনেমা

সব কিছু ঠিক হতে হয়তো আরও ছয় মাস সময় লেগে যাবে।

bangla.thedailystar.net

নতুন সংকটে ঢাকাই সিনেমা
সব কিছু ঠিক হতে হয়তো আরও ছয় মাস সময় লেগে যাবে।

এফডিসির ফাইল ছবি | সংগৃহীত

সরকারি চাকরিতে কোটা সংস্কারের দাবিতে আন্দোলন শুরু হওয়ার পরেই ঢাকাই সিনেমায় নেমে এসেছিল স্থবিরতা। দীর্ঘদিন থেকে বন্ধ নতুন সিনেমার মুক্তি, হয়নি শুটিংও।

অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকার গঠনের পর শুরু হয়েছে নতুন সিনেমার শুটিংয়ের পরিকল্পনা। তবে ঠিক কবে থেকে নতুন সিনেমার শুটিং শুরু হতে পারে তা নির্দিষ্ট হয়নি।

সংশ্লিষ্টরা বলছেন, এর প্রধান কারণ প্রযোজক ও প্রযোজনা সংস্থাগুলোর অনীহা। এই পরিস্থিতিতে সংস্থাগুলো নতুন কোনো সিনেমায় বিনিয়োগ করতে রাজি না। পরিস্থিতি স্থিতিশীল হলে চলচ্চিত্র নির্মাণে গতি ফিরবে।

তাদের ধারণা, সব কিছু ঠিক হতে হয়তো আরও ছয় মাস সময় লেগে যাবে।

বিগ বাজেটের সিনেমা 'বরবাদ' রয়েছে শুটিংয়ের শুরুর তালিকায়। এর প্রধান চরিত্রে থাকছেন শাকিব খান। আগামী সেপ্টেম্বরের শেষে বরবাদ সিনেমার শুটিং হওয়ার কথা ছিল। প্রযোজনা প্রতিষ্ঠান সূত্র জানিয়েছে, সিনেমাটির শুটিং পিছিয়েছে। কবে নাগাদ শুরু হবে, তাও অনিশ্চিত।

মেহেদী হাসান হৃদয় পরিচালিত সিনেমাটিতে শাকিব খানের বিপরীতে থাকার কথা ভারতের নায়িকা ইধিকা পালের। পিছিয়েছে শাকিব খানের আরও একটি সিনেমার 'শের' এর শুটিং। আগামী ডিসেম্বরে শুটিং শুরু হওয়ার কথা ছিল।

সেপ্টেম্বরে শুটিং শুরুর কথা ছিল সাইফ চন্দন পরিচালিত শরীফুল রাজ-ইধিকা পালের সিনেমা 'সাহেব'। সংশ্লিষ্টরা জানিয়েছেন, আপাতত শুটিংয়ের কোনো পরিকল্পনা নেই।

পূজা চেরি অভিনীত 'মাসুদরানা' সিনেমার বাকি অংশের শুটিং চলতি মাসের মাঝামাঝিতে শুরুর পরিকল্পনা ছিল। সেটিও বাতিল হয়েছে। পরিচালক সৈকত নাসির আশা করছেন, আগামী কয়েক মাসের মধ্যে শুটিং শুরু করা সম্ভব হবে।

চিত্রনায়িকা পূজা চেরি ও আদর আজাদকে নিয়ে 'দরদীয়া' নামে একটি সিনেমার শুটিং চলতি বছরেই শুরুর কথা ছিল। বর্তমান পরিস্থিতিতে সেটিও অনিশ্চয়তার মুখে পড়েছে।

কয়েকজন পরিচালকের সঙ্গে কথা বলে জানা গেছে, তারা নতুন সিনেমার শুটিং শুরুর কথা ভাবছেন না।

পরিচালক সমিতির সাধারণ সম্পাদক শাহীন সুমন দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, 'আপাতত এফডিসিতে নতুন কোনো সিনেমার শুটিংয়ের কথা আমার জানা নেই। বাইরে থেকে অন্য কেউ হয়তো করতে পারে। আগামী কয়েক মাস এভাবেই যাবে। তারপর পরিচালকরা হয়তো নতুন সিনেমার শুটিংয়ে ফিরবেন। এসব পরিকল্পনা আগামী এক মাসের মধ্যে জানা যাবে।'

পরিচালক অনন্য মামুন ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, 'যেসব সিনেমার শুটিং হওয়ার পরিকল্পনা ছিল সব পিছিয়েছে। নতুন কোনো সিনেমার শুটিং এখন হবে না। যারা সিনেমা প্রযোজনা করতেন, তারা একটু সময় নিচ্ছেন। শাকিব খানকে নিয়ে শের নামে একটি সিনেমার পরিকল্পনা ছিল ডিসেম্বরে। সেই পরিকল্পনাও বাদ দিতে হয়েছে। প্রযোজনা সংস্থাগুলো কিছুটা পিছিয়ে গেছে। আগামী বছর নাগাদ এই সিনেমার শুটিং শুরু করতে পারবো বলে আশা করছি।'

পরিচালক সৈকত নাসির ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, 'চলতি মাসেই মাসুদরানা সিনেমার শুটিংয়ের জন্য দেশের বাইরে যাওয়ার পরিকল্পনা ছিল। আপাতত সেটা হচ্ছে না। হয়তো আগামী দুই তিন মাসের মধ্যে শুটিং শুরু করা যাবে। দেশের অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থা তেমন ভালো না। প্রথমে মানুষের বেঁচে থাকা, চিকিৎসা, শিক্ষা, তারপর অন্য কিছু। আশা করছি, আগামী কয়েক মাসে সব ঠিকঠাক হয়ে যাবে।'

পরিচালক সাইফ চন্দন বলেন, 'এখন সিনেমার শুটিং করার মতো সময় না, এখন দেশ গড়ার সময়। আমার পরিচালনায় বিগ বাজেটের সিনেমা সাহেব আগামী সেপ্টম্বর মাসে শুটিংয়ের পরিকল্পনা ছিল। অভিনেতা শরীফুল রাজ-ইধিকা পাল দুজনই চুক্তিবদ্ধ হয়েছিলেন প্রযোজনাংস্থার মাধ্যমে। কিন্তু আপাতত শুটিংয়ের পরিকল্পনা নেই। কবে হবে সেটাও জানি না।'​